Starter for engines.



4V. BENDIX'. STARTER FOR" ENGINES. V APPLIATION FILED DBO. 3. 1913.

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V. BENDIX.

STARTER Por; ENGINES.-

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UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oFFioE.

VINCENT BENDIX, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STARTER FOR ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1.914.`

Application filed December 3, 1913. Serial No. 804,526.

4 character. My starter pertains to that type in which are employed a supporting inember such as a screw shaft, and a driving member suchas a pinion capable or' both a longitudinal movement on the shaft and a rotary movement therewith, and the object of my invention is to provide simple., and ctlicient means for preventing shock that might otherwise occur in initial starting when the driving member or pinion ceases its longitudinal travel and begins to rotate with the screw shaft for the purpose of driving any member such as a fly wheel opeiatively connected with the engine. The same means is also-'capable of taking up back lash that might otherwise occur when the engine goes over the compression points, the uneven running of the engine member or fly wheel having a tendency to withdraw the pinion from mesh or to start its movement in that direction when the wheel speeds up after passing a compression point, thereby tending to cause 'a vibration of the pinion on the screw shaft. Speaking in general terms, the ineans which I have provided for the purposes described consists of a simpleand effifcient yielding driving connections interposed iii the` ddi'ving connections between the motor and the screw shaft or driving member.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is asectional elevation of oneeiiibodiment of my invention; Fig. a detail section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a detail elevation of a portion of the gear ring; Fig. 4 a sectional elevation on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 a plan view of the inion and a portion of the screw shaft; Fig. 6 an elevation of the anchoring pin for the spring; Fig. 7 an end view thereof; Fig. 8 a sectional elevation showing a modified form of construction; Fig. 9a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

and Fig. 10 a sectional elevation of another modified form.

In the present instance and by preference the motor employed is an electric motor,

the supporting member is ay screw shaft, the driving member is a pinion, and the engine member or wheel which is driven by suclipinion and operatively connected with the engine is the iy wheel thereof, although it' will be understood that my invention in its broader aspect Vis not to be limited to such motor, screw shaft, pinion, or fly wheel, but that other kinds of motors and driving connections than the specific ones herein illustrated and described for the purposes of a clear and accurate description of `my invention may be employed. It will also be understood that the engine member which is operatively connected with the engine and which is to be driven by the starting device may be any member or wheel or other driving connection connected directly or indirectly with the engine, so that the movements of the motor and its driving member will start the engine into operation. In adf dition, it `will be understood that the rotatable shaft on which the driving member or pinion is mounted may be driven either directly or indirectly by the motor, that is to say, such shaft may be either the armature shaft extended or coupled by means of a yielding driving connection to the screw shaft or may be an entirely separate shaft in the manner of a countershaft driven by a gear from the armature shaft with ayielding driving connection between the gear and the shaft. In the present instance I have shown the latter method of drive but my invention in its broader aspect is not to be limited thereto. Furthermore, it will be understood that while I have herein shown spur ,geaiin between the pinion and the engine wliee whether it bethe fly Wheel or not, and have consequently shown the pinion as movable in a line parallel with the axis of the wheel, worm gearing might be employed, the worm corresponding to the pinion shown as being movable in a plane at right angles to the axis v'of rotation of the fly wheel.

Referring to the specific embodiment of my invention as herein illustrated, the engine member is here shown as a fly wheel l provided on its periphery with a circular rack or with gear teeth 2 of the spur type. The motor 3 is an electric motor having an armature shaft 4 to whose outer end is secured a pinion 5. The motor is mounted at one end in a housing which is secured to any' ture with whichl this device may be associated and which here'comprises three sections 6, 7 and 8, all secured together in suitable manner as by bolting. Within this housing and in a plane intersecting the axis of the fly wheel is mounted a rotatable screw shaft journaled at its ends in bearings provided in the sections Gand 8 of the housing. The drive employed in theinstance being described is of the indirect type, that is to say, the shaft 9 is a countershaft with respect to .the armature shaft, although it willbe understood that the particular character of drive is not essential and that the invention in its broader aspect is equally applicable to the direct drive. As shown in Fig. 1, a

gear is interposed between the pinion and c .l flanges and 16 respectively to provide Aannular bearing surfaces 17 and 18 respectively for the inner surface of the gear ring.

rl`he spring 13 is a coiled spring having its outer end coiled in the form of an eye and received by and secured in a curved recess 19 which is somewhat greater than a semi-circle in cross section. This recess extends all the way through the gear ring except near the left hand thereof (Fig. l) where it is a mere hole 20, almost a full circle. .received in the recess 19 and in order to firmly secure or anchor this end of. the spring l provide an anchoring pin 2l whose abutting portion extends through the eye and through the hole 20' and Whose head portion 22 is receivedn at the right hand end of the recess 19, that is that .portion of such recess not occupied by the spring. The head 22 is of a shape to accurately fit the "recess 19, the same being less than a circle :and more than a semi-circle in order that it may fit upon the annular bearing surface 18 ofthe plate 14:. The inner end of the spring is secured in `a slot 23 in. the -hub 1l.

`1'lhe plate 14: is secured in suitable manner tb the hub, inthe present instance, by screw threading upon the hub portion proper of the hub orshell.

"lhe screw shaft has a screw threaded interrr1e diatev portion, its ends losingjournaled in the sections 6 and 8 of the housing. Upon this screw threaded portion of the shaft is secured afpinion 24 which is ,capable of both a longitudinal movement with respect .to thesh'aft and .also a rotary movemont therewith after-it has been moved into is stated the eye of the spring is Lucero mesh with the gear teeth 2 of the fly Wheel. In order to assure this longitudinal movement of the pinion l prefer to weight the same by means of the weight 25 formed on or secured to one side of the pinion and on one side of its axis of rotation. For the purpose 'of positively stopping the outward travel of the pinion by means other than the end of the thread itself, l provide stop mechanism Which here consists of a lug 26 extending radially from the surface of the shaft near the ends of the screw threads thereon and also a lug 27 projecting lat.- erally from the outer face of the pinion in position to be struck by the lug 26' after the pinion has traveled outwardly into the path of rotation of such lug.

The above described `construction provides a yielding driving connection between4 the motor and the screw shaft. ln the spe- .cific instance being described such yielding connection is interposed between the armature pinion 5 and the shaft. ,l/Vhen the shaft is running freely, that is before the pinion has meshed with thefly wheel and the two stops 26 and 27 become engaged,` the electric motor through its pinion-5 will drive thekk gear ring 10 and the gear hub or shell and consequently such shaft in unison, the motion of coursebeing trans-- lrn'itted through the spring 13 but the latter not yielding because of the free running of the shaft. When, however, the stops 26 and 27 have engaged and the pinion is substantially in full mesh, then a resistance due to the inertia of the fly wheel and associated parts will be offered to the shaft; with the result that the motor continuing to run will move the gear ring 10 independently of or rather faster than the; hub andthe screw shaft, thereby winding up the spring 13. lVhemthe spring has been/ thus wound up and the power being transmitted by the motor through the shaft exceeds the resist ance odered by the flyI wheel, the latter will be rotated'so as to start the engine. When the engine is started on its own power, the fly wheel will rotate at a faster speedthan -when driven bythe starting device and as a result the pinion will be automatically moved longitudinally of its shaft to normal or home position, that is to the left, according to Fig. l. During the starting operation of the engine speed is variable owing to the pistons of ,the engine passing over the` compression points so that the engine speeds up after passing eachl compression point, f This latter movement or increased speed has a tendency to throw out the pinion from mesh'or rather to initiate suchl movement, thereby causing (a vibration of the pinion on the screw shaft. My yielding driving connection overcomes this difficulty by speeding up the screw shaft 9 to compensate for the increased speed of the pinion due to the incrpased speed of the fly wheel Just after the compression points are passed. This effect is brought about by the provision vof the spring 13 which is capablelof ,thus

increasing the speed of the shaft 9 whenlever the load of the shaft is relieved to any extent. This action of the spring is positive and instantaneous and takes place faster than the motor can pick up and transmit increased speed. Another practical advantage gained by my yielding driving connection is the elimination or absorption of shock at the time when the pinion ceases its longitudinal travel and starts to rotate with the shaft, which time is repre` sented bythe contact between the lugsY 26 and 27. This contact is not abrupt or Yforciconstruction of Fig. l.

ble but is cushioned by reason of the yielding driving connection. Still another prac tical advantage resides in the fact that all noise of engagement of the lugs 26 and 27 is Tirevented. l y

In Figs.y 8 and 9 I haveshown a modified form of construction of the yielding driving connection inwhich the same is not inclos'ed in a driving gear as in Fig. 1 but is extraneous thereof. This connection is in the form of a spring 28 coiled 4around the screw shaft 9 and fastened at one end Ito a stud 29 anchored to or screwing into said shaft and at its other end to a pin 30 secured in a gear 31. This geen is mounted to rotate freely u on the screw shaft and is driven by the pinion 5 of the motor 3, thel same as in the It will"^be understood that when the motor is operated the screw shaft will be driven through the mediuni of the spring 28 with the same results and advantages as in respect to the above-described construction. According to this modification the pinion 24 is stopped in its outward travel by means of a collar 32 formed as a part of or secured to thev screw shaft 9.

In Fig. 10 I have shown still another form of yielding driving connection suitable for a direct drive between the electric motor and the screw shaft. As shown the motor 3 has an' armature shaft 4 secured by 'means of l nation with a member operatively connected with v'the engine, a motor, a rotatable member,"a driving member mounted to travel and also to rotate i longitudinally on said rotatable member into engagement with said engine member and also to rotate therewith, and a yielding driving connection between the motor and rotatable member.

2. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a driving member mounted to travel longitudinally on said rotatable member into engagement'with said engine member and also to rotate therewith, and a sprin driving connection between the motor an rotatable member.

3. An engine starter comprising in combination with 'a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, airotatable member, a driving member mounted to travel longitudinally on said rotatable member into engagement with said engine member and also to rotate therewith, and a coiled spring forming a driving connection between the motor and rotatable member.

4. An engine starter comprising in combination withv a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a driving member mounted to travel longitudinally on ysaid rotatable member into engagement with said engine member and also to rotate therewith, a gear mounted ,on the rotatable member, a spring driving connection between the. gear and rotatable member, and a positive driving. connection between the gear and the motor.

5. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a driving Amember mounted to travel longitudinally on said rotatable member into engagement withsaid engine member and also to rotate therewith, said motor having a, driving pinion, a gear driven thereby and mounted upon the rotatable member, and a yielding driving connection between the gear and rotatable member. i

6. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a driving member mounted to travel longitudinally on said rotatable member into engagement with said engine member and also to rotatei therewith, a gear ring mounted concentric with the rotatable member and driven by the motor, also a. coiled spring arranged within the `crear with one end attached thereto and the other connected with the rotatable member.

7. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a driving member mounted to travel longitudinally on said Arotatable member into engagement with said engine member therewith, a gear ring mounted concentric with the rotatable member and driven by the motor, a coiled 'spring arranged within the gear with one end attached thereto and the other connectedwith the rotatable member, said gear having a 5 transverse vslot to receive its end of the Spring, and a Cpin passing through said slot and spring en 8. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a driving member mounted to travel longitudinally yon said rotatable member into'engagement with said engine member` and also to rotate therewith, a gear ring mounted concentric with the rotatable 'mem ber and driven by the motor, a coiled spring arranged within the gear with one end attached thereto'and the other connected with the rotatable member, said gear having a transverse slot to receive its end of the spring, a pin passing through said slot and spring ena, and a hub securedlt'o the rotatable member and forming a support for the ring.

9. An engine starter comprising in combination witha member operativelyconnected 'with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a driving 'member mounted to travel Alongitudinally on said rotatable mem- So ber into engagement with said engine member and also to rotate therewith, a gear ring mounted concentric with the rotatable meinber and driven by the motor, a coiled spring arranged within the gear with one end at- 35; tached thereto and the other connected with the rotatable member, said gear having a transverse .slot to receive its end of the spring, the spring end being a loop or eye and the slot being more than a semi-circle in 4.o cross section, a pin passing through the spring end and slot, and a hub secured to the rotatable member forming a support 4for the ring. l

10. An engine starter comprising in comlfabination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, 'a driving member mounted to travel longitudinally on said rotatable memg ber into engagement with said engine mem- VSil-ber and also to rotate therewith, a gear ring mounted concentric with the rotatable inember and driven by the motor, a coiled spring arranged within the gear with one end attached thereto and the lother'connected with 5-the rotatablev member, said gear having a transverse slot to' receive its end of the spring and terminating in a hole at one side of the ring, the spring end being a loop or eye and the slot being more than a seini- 6Q-circle in cross section, a pin 'passing through Vthe spring end and entering thel hole and having a head fitting the'slot; and a hub secured to the rotatab e member and forming a support for theriinfg.;y te'v 11 im engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a driving member mounted to travel longitudinally on said rotatable member into engagement with said engine member and also to rotate therewith, a gear ringmounted concentric with the rotatable inember and driven by the motor, a coiled spring arrangedwithin the gear with one end attached thereto and the other connected with the rotatable member, said gear having a transverse slot to receive its end of the spring and terminating in' a hole at one side of the ring, the spring endbeing a loop or eye andthe slot being more than a semi-circle in cross section, a pin passing through the spring end and entering the hole and having a head .fitting the slot, a hub securedg' to the rotatable member and :forming a support for the ring, and a plate removably secured to the hub and together therewith forming an inclosure for the spring.

l2. An engine starter comprising in combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a driving member mounted tov trayel longitudinally on said rotatable mem ber into engagement with said engine mem ber and also to rotate therewith, afgear ring inouiitedr concentric with the rotatable member and driven by the motor, a hub secured" to the rotatable member, a coiled spring forming the driving connection between 'the ring and hub, and a plate secured to the hub and forming with the latterv an inclosure for the spring .and a bearing for the ring.` l

13. An engine starter comprising iu combination with a member operatively ccnnected with the engine, a motor, a rotatable member, a .driving member mounted to travel longitudinally on said rotatable member into engagement with said engine inember and also to rotate therewith, a gear ring, a hub secured to the rotatable member and having a radial portion whose outer edge forms a bearing for the ring, a removable plate secured to the hub with its outer edge 'also forming a bearing for the ring, andV a spring .inclosed between the radial Ypor n tion ofthe-hub and the plate and secured respectively` to the hub and ring.

la. A starter for engines comprising, in

i-it I combination with a member operatively connected with the engine, a shaft having a screw threaded portion, a pinion screwthreaded -on the vshaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon VAand' into engagement with the engine member when thelshatt is rotated, said pinion having a projection ony one side, and the shaft vhaving a radial prof,

jection adapted to contact with the said projection, and meansl for driving the l5. A starter for engines comprising, in combination -with a meinbg operativelyzcon.- nected with. the engine, a

iat

shaft .having a. lett` screw threaded portion, a pinion screwthe said projection, and means for driving threaded on the shaft and adapted to travel the shaft comprising a motor and a yielding vlongitudinally thereon and into engage driving connection between it and the shaft. 10

ment with the engine member when the VINCENT BENDIX. 5 shaft is rotated, said pinion having a pro- Witnesses:

jection on one side, and the shaft having a S. E. H IBBEN,

radial projection adapted to Contact with ROBERT DOBBERMAN. 

